Method and apparatus for molding a reinforced, attachable ice block

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for molding a block or sheet of ice that is resistant to breakage and can be readily attached to an external object such as a ski, sled, or other device for the purpose of sliding said objects down or along non-snowy or non-icy terrain. The ice molding apparatus consists of three, typically plastic, parts: a container, a lid, and a grate, all just large enough to fit horizontally into the freezer portion of a standard home side-by-side refrigerator/freezer. The grate is suspended from the container edges down into the container and below the lid, with a portion of the grate extending outside of the container. The lid is mounted on the grate, with the container, grate, and lid all forming a seal to prevent water from easily spilling from the mold apparatus during the ice making and freezing process. The ice that is formed encapsulates the grid that provides structural reinforcement to the ice block and makes it more resistant to breakage than comparably sized ice blocks when impacted by external physical forces. Additionally, a portion of the grate extends outside of the mold (container and lid) and contains a snap latch or other mechanism of similar purpose for attachment to a mating feature on a sled, ski, or other device.

The primary objective of this invention is to be able to easily produce a relatively light-weight ice block or ice sheet that can be readily attached to a sled, ski, or other device for the purpose of sliding said objects down or along non-icy or non-snowy terrain. Attaching ice to the bottom of a ski or sled in order to use those devices during warmer seasons (when snow or ice is not on the ground) is not a unique practice. However, to produce ice that will not break apart under the rigors of downhill skiing or sledding normally requires that the ice be quite thick and heavy. Furthermore, in almost all instances, the method and apparatus to mold and secure the ice to the bottom of a ski or sled is cumbersome and is not something that can be inexpensively mass produced. This invention addresses each of those concerns as outlined in the following statements.

(1) The ice mold apparatus is sized so that it can readily fit within a standard side-by-side refrigerator/freezer found in many homes.

(2) The ice mold apparatus is constructed so that water cannot easily spill from it, and once the ice is frozen, the outside mold can easily be removed from the ice.

(3) Due to an internal grid or lattice that is encapsulated in the ice as it is frozen, relatively thin ice sheets or ice blocks can be produced that are light-weight, yet resistant to breakage during handling and use.

(4) The same grid that provides the ice with additional structural reinforcement also provides a means for quick attachment to a mating sled or ski or the like.

(5) The design of the ice mold apparatus allows it to be inexpensively mass produced using a plastic injection molding process.

The ice molding apparatus consists of three parts: a container, a grid, and a lid. These parts and their assembly are shown in FIG. 1. The grid is mounted on top of the container, such that it fits snuggly on top of the container's four sides or walls. In this position, the center portion of the grid is suspended down into the container and below the lid. After the container (with grid) is filled with water—up to a line indicating the appropriate fill level to accommodate for the expansion of the ice during freezing—the lid is mounted on top of the grid (and container), sealing the mold apparatus assembly in order to prevent water from spilling out during handling and placement into a freezer.

After the water has frozen into ice and the mold apparatus is removed from the freezer, the lid and container can then be separated from the ice and grid (that is encapsulated into the ice). Running warm water over the mold assembly, or waiting for a few minutes for the outermost portion of the ice to melt, will help facilitate easy removal of the lid and separation of the container. The ice block that remains is formed around the center portion of the grid, with the outer edges of the grid being free of ice. The center portion of the grid that is encapsulated in the ice helps to provide the ice with additional reinforcement and helps it to resist breakage during use. The top, outer edge of the grid is used to mount against the bottom of a sled, ski, or the like, and the snap latch feature on the outer grid edge is used to readily secure the ice block (and grid) with a mating feature on the sled, ski, or other device. 

1. A method and apparatus to mold ice blocks or ice sheets containing a lattice or grid structure of plastic or other material that provides for internal structural support or reinforcement to the resulting ice that is formed upon freezing, making the ice, once removed from the mold, less susceptible to breakage during handling or physical impact from outside forces.
 2. The ice molding method and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an ice sheet or ice block of substantial size can be produced that is comparatively thin—typically as little as two inches thick or less, but owing to the internal lattice or grid structure is much more resistant to breakage than similarly sized ice blocks or ice sheets of similar or even greater thickness without said internal lattice or grid.
 3. The ice molding method and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ice molding apparatus consists of three, typically plastic, parts: a container, a lid, and a grate, all typically just large enough to fit right-side-up into the freezer portion of a standard home side-by-side refrigerator/freezer.
 4. The ice molding method and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the overall shape and size of the mold apparatus may be rectangular or some other shape and the grid or lattice contains multiple openings which may vary in pattern or size, but typically expected to be of regular pattern (such as hexagon, triangular, rectangular, rectangular, oval, etc.) and uniform size throughout.
 5. The ice molding method and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lattice or grid is suspended in a mold that consists of a container that is filled with water and a lid used to cover the container (and grid or lattice) prior to freezing; and wherein the mold, or lid and container, is typically made of plastic and can be removed or separated from the ice after freezing, leaving the grid or lattice encapsulated within the resulting ice block or ice sheet.
 6. The ice molding method and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lattice or grid is mounted snuggly on the top edge of the container and suspended downward below the lid that is then secured snuggly on top of the lattice or grid, thereby forming a seal and preventing water from easily escaping from the mold apparatus during the ice making and freezing process.
 7. A method and apparatus to readily attach or secure a block or sheet of ice to an external object such as a sled, ski, or other device by means of a lattice or grid that is integrally encapsulated in the forming of the ice block or ice sheet and which extends outside of the ice block or ice sheet in order to provide a mounting or attachment feature to an external object.
 8. The ice molding method and apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the lattice or grid is made of plastic or some other relatively rigid material and the grid's external mounting or attachment mechanism incorporates a snap latch or some other mechanism or feature of similar purpose for attaching to a sled, ski, or some other external object's corresponding mating mechanism.
 9. The ice molding method and apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the lattice or grid is mounted and suspended in a mold that consists of a container that is filled with water and a lid used to cover the container (and grid or lattice) prior to freezing; and wherein the mold, or lid and container, can be removed or separated from the ice after freezing, leaving a significant portion of the grid or lattice encapsulated within the resulting ice block or ice sheet, and leaving the portion of the grid or lattice with the attachment mechanism or feature outside of the ice block or ice sheet. 